Illiteracy

Introduction to Sociology
[Year]
SUBMITTED TO: MISS AMNA FAROOQ

SUBMITTED BY: M. ABDULLAH (F2019005075)
AHSAN KHALIL (F2019005077)
TAYYAB YAQOOB (F2019005076)
AYUB ARSHAD (F2019005091)
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Illiteracy
What is Illiteracy?
Illiteracy simply means “the inability to read or write”. Illiteracy is defined as not being able to
read and write which effects many people; the number of people incapable of reading or writing
in a certain area or country is known as the Illiteracy rate. It’s a major stumbling block in the
growth and development of a country.
Education is a fundamental need of all human beings and crucial to any country's development.
Education is the effort of state and government, who should do everything in their means, in
keeping with national resources, to provide on-going funding. The community should also play a
role in educational development. Pakistan has the highest concentration of illiterates of any
country. Illiteracy is not only an individual disability but also has an impact on society.
Democratic institutions and values can hardly flourish in a society where half of the adult
population is illiterate and where the majority voters cannot access information or read
newspapers. This is particularly the case for women and those living rural areas. Literacy can not
only lead to dependence, but it also allows people of different social and economic levels to
participate in the decision-making process to the fullest.
In today's world merely getting children to school is not enough; the government should also
ensure that children complete their primary cycle to gain the basic knowledge and skills needed
for their well-being and development as citizens. Many studies have been examined how total
resources are devoted to education. The five main contributing factors to education effectiveness:
curriculum, learning materials, instructions, teaching techniques and the learning capacity of
students
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1.1 Illiteracy in Pakistan:

The picture of illiteracy in Pakistan is grim. Although successive governments have announced
various programs to promote literacy, especially among women, but they have been unable to
translate their words into actions because of various political, social and cultural obstacles.
1.2 Why education is important:

 Basic education is the right of every individual.
 Education is the most important instruments in enhancing human capabilities
 Achieving the desired objective of economic development
 Education enable enables individual to make informed choices, broaden their horizons
and opportunities and to have a voice in public decision-making.
 It is one of the most important factor that act as a counterweight to social and economic
mobility imposed by cultural and historical biases.
 Education is vehicle of nation building
 At country level Education means strong economic growth due to productive and skilled
labor force.
 At individual level education is strongly correlated to higher returns in earning and more
informed and aware existence.
 163000 primary school in Pakistan of which merely 40000 cater to girls
 According to UNICFF 17.6 present of Pakistani children are working and supporting
their families
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2. Reasons of Illiteracy in Pakistan:

1. Poverty:
Poverty is the biggest disadvantage and the largest resistance in the development of a country.
Pakistan has a population of over 190 million (the world's 6th-largest), giving it a nominal
GDP per capita of $1,429, which ranks 140th in the world. Illteracy is Pakistan is because of
high poverty rate, which leads to low literacy rate, poor infrastructure and out dated agriculture
technology, lack of industrialization, wide trade gap, poor healthcare system and low standard
of living. If we take a closer look at the present economic indicators, Pakistan's economy is
dangerously imbalanced.
2. Poor education system:
Poor education is also a big reason of Illiteracy in Pakistan because of lack of schools in rural
areas. Poor education system prevails over there. In some schools. Children in middle school
and high school have different challenges to deal with. The younger ones often face the problem
of being allowed to continue on in school. There is also a gap between upper and lower classes in
society because of difference in their education system, schools and curriculum.
3. Landlord system
Landlords simply means the people of landed class. The ones with huge tracts of land where
people are solely dependent on the person who owns the land. The landowner uses this to his
advantage to keep the people in slavery, bondage labor, without an education or any other forum
or livelihood, other than that is dependent on the Land owner.
4. Governments mismanagement:
It’s the responsibility of government to promote education and to eliminate the Illiteracy. But
lack of awareness was a major reason behind low literacy. So unto some extent can be banned
for not planning the policies concerning this sector.
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5. Lack of awareness:
One of the big reason behind the Illiteracy in Pakistan is the lack of awareness. People of
Pakistan are less aware from the benefits of education in the life. Mostly people consider that
education is only meant for the males and they end their schools but not send their daughters to
schools. This is one of the biggest reason that only few female of Pakistan are getting education
and rest of the females have not even the A B C of education.
3. Effects of Illiteracy on Pakistan:

1. Poor economy:
Illiteracy in the country is badly effecting our economy. People are “trapped in a cycle of poverty
with limited opportunities for employment or income generation” because of illiteracy. This
means that countries with the largest GDP are estimated to bear the highest cost of illiteracy.
2. Effects on health:
Illiteracy also effects the economy in such a way that, illiterate parents tend to have lower
educational expectations and aspirations for themselves and for their children. With regard to
health, research shows that illiteracy significantly limits an individual’s ability to understand
messages and absorb knowledge necessary for self-care – particularly among women. This has a
negative impact on household health, hygiene and nutrition (UNESCO, 2006). The effects of this
phenomenon are reflected within the household (both in general terms and in the mother-child
relationship), at the workplace and in sexual and reproductive behavior.
3. People does not understand ethics and norms:
Because of no education people do not understand the ethics, norms, culture and traditions
properly. They don’t even understand that what to speak and how to react in a particular
situation. So, Illiterate society effects the norms and ethics as an individual as well as of an entire
country.
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4. Effects on individuals and on society:
The effects of Illiteracy on individuals and on society effects and disturbs our entire economy in
such a way:
Effect on individuals:
 Difficulty in dealing with others.

 Inability to follow the instructions on the use of modern machinery.
 Lack of conscious awareness of the importance of worker commitment to the rules of
industrial safety.
Effect on Society:
 Lead to the publication of Illiteracy, unemployment and poverty

 Illiteracy impede the growth of individuals socially.
 Affect Illiterate mothers and fathers especially mothers on the level of education of
children.
4. Regional literacy rate:

The literacy rate for Pakistan in a 2012 consensus was 56%, which includes both males and
females from both rural and urban areas. A 56% literacy rate is very low; this means that almost
half of the country is illiterate and can contribute very little to economic development because
the major contribution in that area is made through education. Despite a very low average
literacy rate, however, there are exceptional cases where the rate is very high; for example, in
Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. In these cities, the literacy rate is almost 75%, far above those in
tribal areas, where acquiring a modern education is considered un-Islamic due to religious
extremism. In these areas, the literacy rate can be as low as 9%, particularly because females are
not allowed to attend school. Boys alone do so and with their education, obtain employment. The
contribution made by education is the key factor in the development of a national economy and
the growth of a country. Thus, it is the responsibility of the administration as well as the people
of Pakistan to ensure that their children are educated so that they can raise the literacy rate and,
ultimately, improve the country's situation and status.
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5. Government policies on literacy:

The government of Pakistan has developed a series of educational policies: the national
education policy in 1972, the national education policy in1979, and the national education policy
in 1992, all of them to develop the education sector and to achieve 100 percent literacy rate.
However, the United Nations (2010) reported that in respect to literacy rates, Pakistan remains
at 160th, with a 50% world literacy rate; in other words, the country is among the bottom
countries of the world for literacy. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan (2010–11) the
overall literacy rate for those ages 10 and above is 57.7%, although with regional and gender
discrimination.
6. Economy Survey on Literacy in Pakistan:

1. Literacy rate of overall population: According to the Pakistan Social and Living
Standards Measurement (PSLM) Survey FY2015,the literacy rate of population (10years
and above) is 60 percent as compared to58 percent in FY2014.The data shows that
literacy rate is higher in urban areas (76 %) than in rural areas (51%).
2. Provincial literacy rate: Province wise data suggests that Punjab leads with 63 percent
followed by Sindh with 60percent, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 53 percent and Baluchistan
with 44 percent.
3. Number of enrolments: At national level, the total number of enrolments during
FY2015 was recorded at 43.95 million as compared to 42.09 million during the same
period. This indicates an increase of 4.4 percent and it is estimated to increase to 45.17
million during FY2016.
4. Number of institutes: The total number of institutes stood at 252.56 thousands during
FY2015 as compared to 241.61thousands during last year, showing an increase to 4.5
percent. However, the number of institute sis estimated to increase to 257.47 thousands
during FY20165.
5. Number of teachers: The total number of teachers during FY2015 was recorded at 1.59
million as compared to 1.53million during the last year showing an increase of 3.9
percent. This number of teachers is estimated to increase further to 1.62 million during
the year FY 2016
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Introduction to Sociology

SUBMITTED TO: MISS AMNA FAROOQ

1.1 Illiteracy in Pakistan:

1.2 Why education is important:

2. Reasons of Illiteracy in Pakistan:

2. Poor education system:

3. Effects of Illiteracy on Pakistan:

3. People does not understand ethics and norms:

4. Effects on individuals and on society:

 Difficulty in dealing with others.

 Lead to the publication of Illiteracy, unemployment and poverty

4. Regional literacy rate:

5. Government policies on literacy:

6. Economy Survey on Literacy in Pakistan:

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